How alleged priest impostor gained bishop’s trust to lead Masses in Diocese of Lodwar

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A man accused of impersonating a Catholic priest gained access to the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar, celebrated Mass alongside the diocesan bishop and later led services in several churches before his identity was questioned.

The case has left the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar questioning how an alleged impostor exercised priestly duties.

On August 16, the diocese issued a notice with two photographs of Mr Onchonga, warning clergy and congregants he was not a Catholic priest.

“He is actually a married man with two children in Kisii,” said the notice signed by Bishop John Mbinda. The diocese accused Mr Onchonga of violating several provisions of the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law.

“He has pretended to administer sacrament (Canon 1379),” the notice stated, citing other alleged offences including unauthorised celebration, usurping ecclesiastical office and falsifying documents. The matter is also before the courts. Mr Onchonga was arraigned in Lodwar on August 14 and pleaded guilty to impersonation under Section 382 of the Penal Code. He reversed the plea on August 17 before Resident Magistrate Michael Lokitam.

The charge states that between July 31 and August 12, Mr Onchonga allegedly deceived Bishop Mbinda and diocesan leaders into believing he was an ordained priest authorised to conduct church meetings.

He is remanded at Lodwar GK Prison pending payment of a Sh100,000 bond plus one surety, or Sh50,000 cash bail.

The prosecution did not object to the change of plea. Mr Lokitam set August 31 for mention and October 13 for hearing. Before the allegations emerged, Mr Onchonga had already gained considerable access to the diocese.

The Nation established that on August 5, Mr Onchonga was among the concelebrants who accompanied Bishop Mbinda at St Augustine Cathedral Church, where they presided over a Holy Mass ahead of the official launch of the Legion of Mary in the Diocese of Lodwar.

"Be evangelists"

During the celebration, Bishop Mbinda challenged newly commissioned members of the Legion of Mary to dedicate themselves to evangelisation by reaching out to people whose faith had weakened and inviting them back to active participation in the Church.

The bishop encouraged the members to take a leading role in proclaiming the Gospel and reaching people who had not heard the Word of God. He also commissioned them to recruit more members from neighbouring parishes to expand the Legion of Mary’s presence and apostolic mission across the diocese. Four praesidia (local units) were officially launched at St Michael Napetet Parish, Holy Family Kanamkemer Parish, Holy Spirit Nawoitorong Parish and St Augustine Cathedral, expanding the Legion’s presence across the diocese.

The Nation learnt that after the Mass, Bishop Mbinda left for Nairobi while Mr Onchonga proceeded to conduct other Masses.

It was during one of those services, at St Mary’s Shrine in Lodaraja near the Kawalase River drift on August 9, that congregants began raising questions about him.

Dressed in a green priestly cassock, Mr Onchonga identified himself as being related to the bishop, according to accounts from the congregation.

Mr Benson Lokwang, one of the congregants, said he appeared unsettled while conducting the Mass, which followed the four main parts of the Catholic liturgy.

A photograph of Mr Onchonga conducting the Mass was later shared in a WhatsApp group used by priests and the bishop. His conduct during the service became one of the issues discussed. A priest privy to the investigation said Mr Onchonga at one point attempted to give a congregant an unconsecrated sacrament before he was corrected.

He also led Masses at St Augustine, where congregant Washington Lore said the man made the service interactive and educative. However, he was later corrected at St Thomas Chapel after confusion emerged over the flow of the rites.

During interrogation at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations offices in Lodwar, Mr Onchonga reportedly said he had previously been associated with a Tanzania-based congregation, which later denied knowledge of him. He said he had previously met Bishop Mbinda at Tangaza University and wanted to reconnect with him after leaving Tanzania.

Nation has recordings in which Mr Onchonga describes how he obtained the bishop’s telephone number and arranged to visit him in Lodwar. He did not disclose the circumstances or purpose of his visit to the bishop. The case has now left the Diocese of Lodwar facing questions beyond the criminal proceedings.

Among the issues expected to come under scrutiny is what permanent protocols will be introduced to prevent such an incident in future. The diocese is also expected to establish whether any parish priest, religious superior, chaplain, institutional administrator or diocesan official facilitated the activities of the suspected impostor.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.